2009 NCAA football thread!!

[Displaced Flames fan]

Appalachian State vs Montana

2 PM MST in Missoula this Saturday.

The game will be carried live on ESPN for those interested in seeing what a playoff atmosphere (and by most accounts the best playoff atmosphere in the country) is like in college football.

I, unfortunately, will be stuck at work until hours after the game. I will rely on ESPN360 once again to watch...ugh.

[flip]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I see...those that disagree with you are completely detached from reality. In that case you and I have nothing left to talk about for sure. In my delusion I will just know I am right and you are not.



Its a total and complete strawman argument...the FBS schools currently heading into their 3rd weekend of playoff games all have finals as well. As do the same colleges basketball teams, soccer teams, hockey teams etc etc etc....that need time off for their football players to study. I mean really...are the Texas longhorns basketball players so much more academically superior to their football team that they can travel and play their sport and not worry about "finals"?

Why dont those players need 30 days off for studying as well? Its a nonsensical argument no matter how you want to believe the spin of it.

Dude, I'm in favour of a playoff system. All I meant was that they do take time off for finals, which you seemed to deny.

They don't HAVE to take the time off but they do.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by flip

Dude, I'm in favour of a playoff system. All I meant was that they do take time off for finals, which you seemed to deny.

They don't HAVE to take the time off but they do.

Who takes time off for finals?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by flip

Dude, I'm in favour of a playoff system. All I meant was that they do take time off for finals, which you seemed to deny.

They don't HAVE to take the time off but they do.

I think he was trying to convince me, since I brought it up hihihihihihi.

[Sylvanfan]

It is disappointing that the two teams who get slagged the most for having undefeated records due to cream puff schedules end up facing off against each other. I'd much rather see how TCU and Boise state stack up against some of the bigger schools who were in the mix. Had they been able to get a TCU and Florida bowl game it would have been a good oppurtunity to judge how good TCU really was. But I can see why a Boise State and Cincy bowl game would terrify the BCS for being a financial dud.

[flip]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Who takes time off for finals?

College kids?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by flip

College kids?

Transplant's entire argument was that the players in the FCS division don't, they are playing a playoff right now. Basketball programs don't shut down for finals....so yeah, he was denying it because it's true.

It's a bad argument against a playoff.

[flip]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Transplant's entire argument was that the players in the FCS division don't, they are playing a playoff right now. Basketball programs don't shut down for finals....so yeah, he was denying it because it's true.

It's a bad argument against a playoff.

Ok. That doesn't change the fact that these players have to write finals.

I'm in FAVOUR of a playoff. I don't know how many times I have to repeat that.

All I said is that people use it as an argument and that players do have to write finals.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by moon

Why would the BCS need to protect USC when they consistently beat top teams when they play them?

USC was ranked 18th because they deserved it.

The BCS bowls for most part are pretty boring match-ups.

A terrible Iowa team versus a mediocre is a crap game. I guess it will be interesting to see if Florida cares enough to destroy Cincy.

The TCU-Boise St. game has some interest but the fall out from the winning teams fans whining will be annoying.

With the way Texas played against Nebraska and the way Alabama has player all season even the NC game seems pretty boring.

Alabama's entire body of work isn't that much more impressive than UT's except for the win vs. Florida. I think everyone would be singing a different tune if maybe the Bama - Tenn game that finished 12-10 saved by 2 blocked fg's happened saturday and Texas had crushed Missouri. People are way overrating Bama. No one in the country demolished their schedule except for TCU and they played no one.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by flip

And just to clarify I do get that the final exam thing isn't a be-all end-all but still it is one of the valid reasons for not having a playoff. I'm all for a playoff system and I don't think finals are a big deal to work around, but AFAIK it is one of the major reasons there is no college football in December.

Wait, now that I think about it, aren't you against a playoff system? Wouldn't you want to support the final exam thing being a good reason to no have playoffs?

Maybe I just interpreted your post wrong. Whether you meant your post for or against a playoff system you still sold me with the analogy because I love that movie.

Not sure why I quoted your post since it has nothing to do with my post but it seemed like the thing to do.

First things first, that is obviously an amazing movie.

I'm not really against a playoff, I've just never seen a workable solution or a system that doesn't create more problems than it solves. Every plan I've seen relies on the major conferences to forego their current revenue streams without guarantees that those will be replaced by the playoff system, that's simply not a realistic way to approach the issue. It's a very complicated situation and all I ever see from playoff supporters is a bunch of moaning about how horrible things are now (despite the massive step the BCS is over the past system) and proposals that ask for unrealistic changes. It's become virtually impossible to have a conversation about it, which is why I don't really do it unless someone recognizes the complex concerns involved.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Sowa

Alabama's entire body of work isn't that much more impressive than UT's except for the win vs. Florida. I think everyone would be singing a different tune if maybe the Bama - Tenn game that finished 12-10 saved by 2 blocked fg's happened saturday and Texas had crushed Missouri. People are way overrating Bama. No one in the country demolished their schedule except for TCU and they played no one.

uhhh ... Alabama has the 4th rated Strength of Schedule, Texas is 30th. Alabama had a solid year against a good schedule. They had two close rivalry games and beat three teams that were ranked in the top 10 as of gameday.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by flip

Ok. That doesn't change the fact that these players have to write finals.

I'm in FAVOUR of a playoff. I don't know how many times I have to repeat that.

All I said is that people use it as an argument and that players do have to write finals.

Why would it matter what side of the argument you are on?

You said that finals was a valid argument against a playoff system. Clearly Transplant has shown why it is not, unless you somehow believe BCS football players are less equipped to deal with student-athleticism than basketball players or FCS football players.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by nik-

uhhh ... Alabama has the 4th rated Strength of Schedule, Texas is 30th. Alabama had a solid year against a good schedule. They had two close rivalry games and beat three teams that were ranked in the top 10 as of gameday.

I don't doubt that Bama played a tougher schedule. And even though I am a UT fan I still think Bama's going to win, but I think it will be a close game. Vegas apparently agrees as it's a 4 1/2 spread right now. Texas' close games were all rivalry as well, although I guess you can say Nebraska is not a rival, but that game is always a close one. I think the key to the game is which version of McElroy shows up the guy was a good qb the beginning and the end of the season but stunk it up in the middle of the season. Also don't forget Mack has yet to lose a BCS bowl game so he obviously knows how to prepare for them. Heres hoping the Horns up there record against Bama to 8-0-1 lifetime. Also, I remember the last time UT went to play an invincible team in the BCS title, I liked how that one turned out.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Sowa

Alabama's entire body of work isn't that much more impressive than UT's except for the win vs. Florida. I think everyone would be singing a different tune if maybe the Bama - Tenn game that finished 12-10 saved by 2 blocked fg's happened saturday and Texas had crushed Missouri. People are way overrating Bama. No one in the country demolished their schedule except for TCU and they played no one.

I don't think it is.

My comment about seeing Alabama play all season wasn't meant that I was impressed but just the opposite.

I don't think it will be a great game because neither team has impressed me all that much this season.

[nik-]

It's two good teams playing for the NC. I expect a close game.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by moon

I don't think it is.

My comment about seeing Alabama play all season wasn't meant that I was impressed but just the opposite.

I don't think it will be a great game because neither team has impressed me all that much this season.

Ah ok I somewhat agree with you than. I don't think anyone in D1 impressed that much this year save TCU.

[transplant99]

A lengthy, well thought out article on how a playoff system could both be implemented and be fair to all.




http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...yhoo&type=lgns

[JayP]

What have 4-loss non-BCS teams done to earn themselves a playoff berth? Apparently if March Madness does it, NCAA football should as well. Let's ignore the fact that 48 more teams would make the basketball tournament.

EDIT: I read the whole article now and, wow, is it brutal.

East Carolina/Texas would be as compelling as Boise St/Oklahoma and draw in millions of casual fans? Perhaps he forgot that Boise St. was 13-0 and East Carolina is 8-4.

His idea for dealing with the bowl games - just ignore them. According to him they're cash cows and they'd be fine on their own. The Rose Bowl wouldn't lose anything hosting Oregon St vs. Wisconsin during the same time these playoff games are going on.

Playoffs aren't a terrible idea, but the ignoring the actual logistics of implementing them is why they'll never happen. Instead you get idiots like this writer rehashing playoff scenarios that people have been suggesting 3+ years now.

[transplant99]

read the article.

[GirlySports]

Alot of it makes sense but I don't like his argument for getting rid of the bowls. What does the Rose Bowl become then? 17th against 18th? Oregon State against Wisconsin?

Is there really a point of having Troy play Alabama AT Bryant-Denny Stadium?
Alabama would win by 30.

We need small changes, any playoff would only be 8 teams and involve the 4 Big Bowls.